MHA officials pulled up for letting Moin Qureshi travel abroad

The PMO today sought a report from the Home Ministry on how Delhi-based meat exporter Moin Qureshi, who is under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), was allowed to travel to Dubai last week despite a pending look-out circular against him.

The PMO today sought a report from the Home Ministry on how Delhi-based meat exporter Moin Qureshi, who is under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), was allowed to travel to Dubai last week despite a pending look-out circular against him.

In light of the matter, the Home Ministry ordered a high-level probe into the case, including on the immigration officials who let him travel. The immigration department has been asked to submit its report within 72 hours.

Earlier in September, the ED had issued circular requesting immigration officials to detain Qureshi and inform the agency if he attempted to travel abroad. On October 14, immigration officials on duty intercepted Qureshi for questioning and subsequently the ED was also informed. However, it is alleged that even before the ED team could manage to arrive at the airport, Qureshi was allowed to board the flight after he produced court documents granting him permission to go abroad.

The ED had earlier been probing this case under forex violation laws after the I-T department first shared documents indicating hawala and alleged contravention of forex laws by the businessman and his business entities based in India.

It had alleged that Qureshi has sent "huge amount of funds" through the hawala route to Dubai, London and few other overseas destinations in Europe.

The agency early last year had also conducted searches on Qureshi's premises and had questioned him.

The Income Tax department, during its probe, had found Qureshi had 11 bank lockers which were in the names of his employees and associates but the articles belonged to the businessman.